Give your water a sniff. Does it smell like boiled rotten eggs? If your answer is yes, then you have a problem on your hands. But not to worry, this smell is fairly easy to get rid of.
Here are some of the facts on the issue.
Facts about your water
- There are more than 300 chemicals in your water.
- An egg smell may be a sign that your water is dangerously contaminated.
- There are several ways to locate and fix the problem.
What is the cause of the rotten egg smell of your water?
Most of the time, excessive levels of sulphur bacteria is the cause of the unpleasant odour of your water within your plumbing system or water supply. The foul smell is perceived when there is a lack of oxygen, which eventually produces Hydrogen Sulphide gas.
However, if the smell is only perceived in your hot water tap, then a chemical reaction may be the likely cause. Iron bacteria may also lead to this problem in hot water, although they are not harmful. Warm and hot water are the ideal breeding ground for iron bacteria.
Sewage and other contaminants may also cause the sulfur smell in your water, although this only occurs on rare occasions.
What’s wrong with Hydrogen Sulphide in water?
The sulphide bacteria (hydrogen sulphide) can cause damages to your plumbing pipes and fixtures. In severe situations, it could even corrode them. However, the underlying question is – is water with a rotten egg smell caused by hydrogen sulfide safe to drink? Well, yes, it is perfectly safe. But why risk health issues if you can solve the problem?
How to remove the foul odour from water?
Since the pungent smell can affect treated and hot water, there are different ways of removing the smell in both of them.
- If the smell is in treated water: If you notice a rotten egg smell in all temperatures of your water, then have a look if the water is treated or not. If your untreated water does not have the smell, but your treated one does, then the problem is with your water softener. It is probably contaminated with sulphide bacteria, and a change should solve the problem.
- However, if you still perceive the sulphur smell in your water, then have your plumbing fixtures repaired or serviced.
- If the smell is in only your hot water: In this situation, your water heater is probably contaminated. An expert boiler inspector should fix the hot water smell for you in no time.
- If the smell is in all the water in your house: Here, two things can be the cause.
a. If you perceive the smell when the cold and hot taps are turned on, then hydrogen sulphide is probably in your groundwater.
b. If the smell is stronger in both taps, but gradually goes away, then your distribution system is probably contaminated with hydrogen sulphide or other substances.
In both cases, testing the water should be the first thing you do.
In conclusion, having your house water smelling like rotten eggs is a problem that requires your attention. If you are unsure of what is causing the pungent smell of your water, then you could reach out to us at ALK Plumbers.
Read More:
